A feeling of utter excitement, happiness, bliss and relaxation... My heart pumps a little faster, and my stomach fights to contain the multitude of butterflies running wild within.. A feeling reserved for flights with the destination: Home.
I'm going home. Amman, I'm coming!
5 minutes to boarding, seriously got to run!
HEY WAIT FOR ME YOU CANNOT GO WITHOUT ME I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Half Way There!
ONE DAY to go!!
That's all what's left of my Very First Semester in my Very First Classroom! Wow.. that's half the journey complete.. must say I'm pretty proud of myself:P
I've been told it's good to pause every now and then to reflect back and evaluate experiences as you go through them.. and I'm not one to dismiss perfectly good advice (or perfectly good chocolates for that matter:P *hint hint*)
Off the top of my head, here are the goods and bads, the ups and downs, the OH-YEAHS and OH-CRAPS, of My Very First Semester:
Great Lessons I've learnt:
1. You can't stay mad at a kid for more than 5 minutes (something to keep in mind next time you're about to retort "you're grounded for LIFE" or in my case "time-out corner NOW. Till you're EIGHTEEN":P).
2. They may seem endless at the time, but bad days eventually end.
3. Good days make it all worthwhile.
4. If you are teaching an all-boys class, do not -I repeat, do NOT- start the school year extra bubbly/smiley with a "life-is-one-big-party" aura about you. The consequences will be grave. Grave indeed.
5. If the most naughty and disruptive kid in class asks to go to the bathroom, then by all means say YES! (and savor every bit of those serene 5 minutes while he's out)
6. Go out of your way to be nice to your colleagues. It pays.
7. Every kid is 10 times as smart as you think he/she is and 50 times as naughty!!
8. Make sure you mean and document every promise you give a child- they forget NOTHING. They're like elephants on "extra strong memory enhancing pills"! Unbelievable.
9. It's only scary when you stop to think about it. Just do it. (those dudes over at Nike sure knew what they were talking about!)
10. Teaching is the best painkiller. The minute those rowdy kids fill your classroom, you're mind is TOTALLY off any pain you were experiencing, no matter how severe. Noticing signs of discomfort in your own body instantly becomes a luxury you cannot possibly afford!
11. Don't ever lose your child heart. It'll be your biggest loss.
12. Getting a hug from a cute first grader, is all it takes to turn a bad day into a good one.
13. And a good day, into a magical one!
15. Something to keep in mind in a later stage in my life: When your boy comes home from school, instantly soak him (clothes on!) in a huge tub of all kinds of soaps and detergents and rub with a array of cleaning devices. Don't even ask. Just do it.
16. You can never get bored of teaching. You may (and very often will) get physically and emotionally exhausted. You can get frustrated at some point, and you may even "lose it" for a minute or two (unless you're me, in which case you cannot blame teaching for any signs of mental dysfunction!:P). But boredom, is no where in the picture.
17. Each passing day makes me realise that I have so much to learn still about teaching, and I can't wait to.
18. I think I have chosen the right profession. I love it.
Could-Definitely-Have-Done-Without Experiences/Lessons:
1. The classroom is NOT the place to start experimenting with the most effective frown. You'll just look weird.
2. There's only so much stress your vocal cords can take before you start croaking.
3. Parent-Teacher Conferences: There is such a thing as too much talking- even for me!
4. Don't wear your favorite shirt to school. And if you do, keep a safe distance of about 10 feet away from any boy at any time.
5. Marking tests is SO. DARN. BORING. I want to shoot myself.
6. And doing it while you watch TV is a bad idea. Sucks the fun out of the show and your pace slows down 10 folds.
7. Waking up at 5 am. every single day is kind of inhumane (even for an early bird like myself).
8. The kids at the last period of the day do NOT function properly. Will someone please contact customer service, and yes I would love a refund:P
9. Teachers are professional complainers (myself included). 90% of teacher-teacher conversations during the course of a day involve complaints about a student, parent, the curriculum, the Admin or -if all else fails- the bathroom running out of toilet paper. This must stop.
So... Has this semester left any tangible changes in me? I'm not sure. I'll leave it to you to decide next time you see me. But just to prepare you, today while doing my routine run around the school corridors as I rushed from room to room I caught myself doing this:
Instead of silently running in a straight line as usual, I found myself swirling right and left, speeding up uncontrollably then mock-crashing into objects- all the while producing the necessary "vvvrrrrmmmmm... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek...BEEEp beep..Vrrrmmmmmmmmm" sound effects to accompany it.
I swear to God.
I should come with a warning/disclaimer: Questionable mental stability. Mixing with kids could worsen symptoms. KEEP AWAY FROM KIDS.
Huh. Better not mention that on my CV though!
That's all what's left of my Very First Semester in my Very First Classroom! Wow.. that's half the journey complete.. must say I'm pretty proud of myself:P
I've been told it's good to pause every now and then to reflect back and evaluate experiences as you go through them.. and I'm not one to dismiss perfectly good advice (or perfectly good chocolates for that matter:P *hint hint*)
Off the top of my head, here are the goods and bads, the ups and downs, the OH-YEAHS and OH-CRAPS, of My Very First Semester:
Great Lessons I've learnt:
1. You can't stay mad at a kid for more than 5 minutes (something to keep in mind next time you're about to retort "you're grounded for LIFE" or in my case "time-out corner NOW. Till you're EIGHTEEN":P).
2. They may seem endless at the time, but bad days eventually end.
3. Good days make it all worthwhile.
4. If you are teaching an all-boys class, do not -I repeat, do NOT- start the school year extra bubbly/smiley with a "life-is-one-big-party" aura about you. The consequences will be grave. Grave indeed.
5. If the most naughty and disruptive kid in class asks to go to the bathroom, then by all means say YES! (and savor every bit of those serene 5 minutes while he's out)
6. Go out of your way to be nice to your colleagues. It pays.
7. Every kid is 10 times as smart as you think he/she is and 50 times as naughty!!
8. Make sure you mean and document every promise you give a child- they forget NOTHING. They're like elephants on "extra strong memory enhancing pills"! Unbelievable.
9. It's only scary when you stop to think about it. Just do it. (those dudes over at Nike sure knew what they were talking about!)
10. Teaching is the best painkiller. The minute those rowdy kids fill your classroom, you're mind is TOTALLY off any pain you were experiencing, no matter how severe. Noticing signs of discomfort in your own body instantly becomes a luxury you cannot possibly afford!
11. Don't ever lose your child heart. It'll be your biggest loss.
12. Getting a hug from a cute first grader, is all it takes to turn a bad day into a good one.
13. And a good day, into a magical one!
15. Something to keep in mind in a later stage in my life: When your boy comes home from school, instantly soak him (clothes on!) in a huge tub of all kinds of soaps and detergents and rub with a array of cleaning devices. Don't even ask. Just do it.
16. You can never get bored of teaching. You may (and very often will) get physically and emotionally exhausted. You can get frustrated at some point, and you may even "lose it" for a minute or two (unless you're me, in which case you cannot blame teaching for any signs of mental dysfunction!:P). But boredom, is no where in the picture.
17. Each passing day makes me realise that I have so much to learn still about teaching, and I can't wait to.
18. I think I have chosen the right profession. I love it.
Could-Definitely-Have-Done-Without Experiences/Lessons:
1. The classroom is NOT the place to start experimenting with the most effective frown. You'll just look weird.
2. There's only so much stress your vocal cords can take before you start croaking.
3. Parent-Teacher Conferences: There is such a thing as too much talking- even for me!
4. Don't wear your favorite shirt to school. And if you do, keep a safe distance of about 10 feet away from any boy at any time.
5. Marking tests is SO. DARN. BORING. I want to shoot myself.
6. And doing it while you watch TV is a bad idea. Sucks the fun out of the show and your pace slows down 10 folds.
7. Waking up at 5 am. every single day is kind of inhumane (even for an early bird like myself).
8. The kids at the last period of the day do NOT function properly. Will someone please contact customer service, and yes I would love a refund:P
9. Teachers are professional complainers (myself included). 90% of teacher-teacher conversations during the course of a day involve complaints about a student, parent, the curriculum, the Admin or -if all else fails- the bathroom running out of toilet paper. This must stop.
So... Has this semester left any tangible changes in me? I'm not sure. I'll leave it to you to decide next time you see me. But just to prepare you, today while doing my routine run around the school corridors as I rushed from room to room I caught myself doing this:
Instead of silently running in a straight line as usual, I found myself swirling right and left, speeding up uncontrollably then mock-crashing into objects- all the while producing the necessary "vvvrrrrmmmmm... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek...BEEEp beep..Vrrrmmmmmmmmm" sound effects to accompany it.
I swear to God.
I should come with a warning/disclaimer: Questionable mental stability. Mixing with kids could worsen symptoms. KEEP AWAY FROM KIDS.
Huh. Better not mention that on my CV though!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Not our next Einstein perhaps....
but the kid seems opinionated and bossy enough to make it big in life!
Seen on Yousef's quiz paper about electricity...
Question: Which would be better to use at home, series or parallel circuits?
Yousef's answer: Parallel
Question: Explain why.
Yousef's answer: Because I like it.
But of course you do. Silly silly Miss Mariam for expecting a scientific answer!
And to think I once thought checking exams would be tedious and uninteresting:P
Seen on Yousef's quiz paper about electricity...
Question: Which would be better to use at home, series or parallel circuits?
Yousef's answer: Parallel
Question: Explain why.
Yousef's answer: Because I like it.
But of course you do. Silly silly Miss Mariam for expecting a scientific answer!
And to think I once thought checking exams would be tedious and uninteresting:P
Saturday, January 20, 2007
You can tell it's a memorable experience when...
More than 2 years later, a lot of my conversations still begin with: "Oh that reminds me of that time in Sabila when we....."
washed dishes for a 30 person meal!
Helped build our own camp fire, and spent many cold nights cozily around it:)
Met the local kids...
pretended like I knew how to paint!
If you think about it, it's not surprising. I mean, where else in a span of a month would I have:
washed dishes for a 30 person meal!
Climbed down, got my rope tangled and was rescued
up a 100-foot tower (and I'm scared of heights!! REAL scared.)
Helped build our own camp fire, and spent many cold nights cozily around it:)
Met the local kids...
pretended like I knew how to paint!
Enjoyed an "all-the-grapes-you-can-eat" festival!
Conquered Rum On Foot...
and its highest peak "Om Al Dami"
Collapsed on the floor, not giving my "cleanliness" a second thought!
washed cars using a dust sweeper...
Sailed on board of a ship
was a proud member of "hideously striped red tshirt" gang:)
Somehow found myself looking like this---->
Explored the world around us (or was it our own feet??:P)
Experienced Jordan. The real thing.
Conquered Rum On Foot...
and its highest peak "Om Al Dami"
Collapsed on the floor, not giving my "cleanliness" a second thought!
washed cars using a dust sweeper...
Sailed on board of a ship
was a proud member of "hideously striped red tshirt" gang:)
Somehow found myself looking like this---->
Explored the world around us (or was it our own feet??:P)
Experienced Jordan. The real thing.
I'm in such a nostalgic and reminiscing mood tonight.. but I guess you figured that already!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Ouch
I guess- ouch- it takes a session of wall climbing to make one -ouch- appreciate how many muscles are -ouch- actually involved in the simple process of typing. Ouch.
I finally had a chance to check the wall climbing they have here yesterday with Nadine and her friend's two little girls. I thought it was cool, so I went today and climbed for an hour.
Ouch.
Ouch.
Ouch.
My fingers, wrists and arms have gone into permanent spasm! I have lost all sensation in that area. Mom and dad sat sipping their coffee as they watched me flail my arms while my body swung and dropped to the ground- over and over. The amused looks on their faces were unmistakable. The sound effects I produced, however, were lost on them, since they were sitting indoors.
I finally had a chance to check the wall climbing they have here yesterday with Nadine and her friend's two little girls. I thought it was cool, so I went today and climbed for an hour.
Ouch.
Ouch.
Ouch.
My fingers, wrists and arms have gone into permanent spasm! I have lost all sensation in that area. Mom and dad sat sipping their coffee as they watched me flail my arms while my body swung and dropped to the ground- over and over. The amused looks on their faces were unmistakable. The sound effects I produced, however, were lost on them, since they were sitting indoors.
Aside from the fact that my climbing skills are crummy still, it's really AWESOME (ouch- and yes it hurts more to write capitalized for some reason :P)
But one thing's for sure, this aint over Mr. Wall!! I'll be back with vengeance- flailing arms and all :P
This girl is no quitter (but she is a whiner and OUCH this hurts)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Keeps gettin better and better!
I believe I had made my rejoice apparent earlier when I mentioned my plans to go to Amman during my mid-term holiday (which is in a week!! YAY TO ME:D). Just the thought of being there, amidst all the familiar things is enough to draw a huge silly grin on my face.. My bed, our kitchen, our beat-up (but surviving strong!) car, my friends, my cat, everything!
You get the point.
My dad then decided to make his trip to Amman coincide with mine, so that meant I had a travelling buddy! Which only made the appealing nature of my travels even more so:)
Another great surprise was finding out that dear ol' cousin Nasser will be (after 10 years of absence) visiting this end of the universe too! A fellow choco/cookie/dessert-oholic visiting town, juuuuust the excuse I need to make sure I visit each and EVERY desserty place :P Looking good. Looking good indeed :D
and NOW just like that, out of the blue, my sis informs me that she made reservations and she'll be around in Amman same time!!!!!!!!!!! (It's actually still sinking in. I mean I thought I won't see her till the summer!! and now IN A WEEK. wow)
People people slow down, there's only so much excitement and happiness I could handle!
I think I'm hyperventilating here :D (seriously)
That is SO AWESOME.
Fatherly/daughterly/sisterly/cousinly reunion squashed into one! Lookin good lookin good;)
Oh and don't make the mistake of thinking that I won't see my brother! He also surprised us with the news of him coming (to Kuwait) during his spring break, which is in like a month from now! :D :D so that's also another thing to GET SOOOOO EXCITED AND ECSTATIC ABOUT. Man, all this happiness is exhausting I must say :D
So to those of you involved in this Ammani reunion, here's what I propose our plans MUST include:
1. For rainy days: cookie baking, cookie eating, cookie hugging (did I say that out loud?:P) . Mac and cheese nights while watching a corny feel-good-happy-ending chick flick (I can almost see your grimace Nasser)
2. For rainy days (option 2): just go for a loooong walk and get totally soaked (hmm.. i have a hunch I'll end up doing that one alone:)
3. Hikes and outdoorsy stuff: Ajlun reserve, Rum? and/or Wadi Ibin Hammad (don't worry Dalia I'll do the driving, you just sit back, relax, and say your last prayers!)
4. laid back walk through Shmeisani all the way to Plaza, get pizza and an action/thriller/too-much-violence-it-makes-me-want-to-cry movie to cater for the taste of our Y-chromosome-carrying family members (how considerate am I, eh?).
5. A visit to Chez Hilda, indulging in her desserts, and thanking her for making the world a sweeter place!
6. Pizza Nutella at Caserreccio (repeat as necessary).
7. A visit to Darat al Funun followed by a walking tour downtown (with Dalia as a guide, cuz let's face it I'm clueless most of the time!), buying 1 dinar sunglasses and making sure dad gets his Habiba syrup-laden Kunafa!:)
8. Visit the crazy cat! and marvel on how fat he's gotten.
9. Play Taboo and actually get an answer right (I'm talking about myself here).
10. Go for a run every morning in Sport City's cute woodsy path! (again, the likelihood of getting someone to tag along is slim-to-none).
11. A picnic on the side of the aiport road or on the patch of grass on the 2nd or 3rd circle (HEHEHEHEHEHEHE kidding!! Although that would be a TRULY Ammani thing to do. Man I miss Amman.)
12. An all-the-shawerma-and-falafel-you-can-eat-in-one-day tour, for the shawerma/falafel-deprived Canadian souls:P
13. Catching up on ALL the new local jokes. I've been in Kuwait for a year and a half now and no one has EVER told me a joke. I miss the humor! I used to always have a joke up my sleeve, now I'm rusty.
14. Buying a huge pack of sha3rawi, cuz let's face it it's the yummiest gum ever (and that's from someone who almost never chews gum).
15. Basically savoring the Ammani experience :D
Huh. Is it just me or do half these points revolve around food? We must seriously get a life!!
As for you my brother, our sisterly/brotherly/motherly/fatherly plans will be disclosed as the time comes nearer :D me loves you!
And as if I didn't have enough to rejoice in already, we have a long weekend this week! Yay to me! :D
You get the point.
My dad then decided to make his trip to Amman coincide with mine, so that meant I had a travelling buddy! Which only made the appealing nature of my travels even more so:)
Another great surprise was finding out that dear ol' cousin Nasser will be (after 10 years of absence) visiting this end of the universe too! A fellow choco/cookie/dessert-oholic visiting town, juuuuust the excuse I need to make sure I visit each and EVERY desserty place :P Looking good. Looking good indeed :D
and NOW just like that, out of the blue, my sis informs me that she made reservations and she'll be around in Amman same time!!!!!!!!!!! (It's actually still sinking in. I mean I thought I won't see her till the summer!! and now IN A WEEK. wow)
People people slow down, there's only so much excitement and happiness I could handle!
I think I'm hyperventilating here :D (seriously)
That is SO AWESOME.
Fatherly/daughterly/sisterly/cousinly reunion squashed into one! Lookin good lookin good;)
Oh and don't make the mistake of thinking that I won't see my brother! He also surprised us with the news of him coming (to Kuwait) during his spring break, which is in like a month from now! :D :D so that's also another thing to GET SOOOOO EXCITED AND ECSTATIC ABOUT. Man, all this happiness is exhausting I must say :D
So to those of you involved in this Ammani reunion, here's what I propose our plans MUST include:
1. For rainy days: cookie baking, cookie eating, cookie hugging (did I say that out loud?:P) . Mac and cheese nights while watching a corny feel-good-happy-ending chick flick (I can almost see your grimace Nasser)
2. For rainy days (option 2): just go for a loooong walk and get totally soaked (hmm.. i have a hunch I'll end up doing that one alone:)
3. Hikes and outdoorsy stuff: Ajlun reserve, Rum? and/or Wadi Ibin Hammad (don't worry Dalia I'll do the driving, you just sit back, relax, and say your last prayers!)
4. laid back walk through Shmeisani all the way to Plaza, get pizza and an action/thriller/too-much-violence-it-makes-me-want-to-cry movie to cater for the taste of our Y-chromosome-carrying family members (how considerate am I, eh?).
5. A visit to Chez Hilda, indulging in her desserts, and thanking her for making the world a sweeter place!
6. Pizza Nutella at Caserreccio (repeat as necessary).
7. A visit to Darat al Funun followed by a walking tour downtown (with Dalia as a guide, cuz let's face it I'm clueless most of the time!), buying 1 dinar sunglasses and making sure dad gets his Habiba syrup-laden Kunafa!:)
8. Visit the crazy cat! and marvel on how fat he's gotten.
9. Play Taboo and actually get an answer right (I'm talking about myself here).
10. Go for a run every morning in Sport City's cute woodsy path! (again, the likelihood of getting someone to tag along is slim-to-none).
11. A picnic on the side of the aiport road or on the patch of grass on the 2nd or 3rd circle (HEHEHEHEHEHEHE kidding!! Although that would be a TRULY Ammani thing to do. Man I miss Amman.)
12. An all-the-shawerma-and-falafel-you-can-eat-in-one-day tour, for the shawerma/falafel-deprived Canadian souls:P
13. Catching up on ALL the new local jokes. I've been in Kuwait for a year and a half now and no one has EVER told me a joke. I miss the humor! I used to always have a joke up my sleeve, now I'm rusty.
14. Buying a huge pack of sha3rawi, cuz let's face it it's the yummiest gum ever (and that's from someone who almost never chews gum).
15. Basically savoring the Ammani experience :D
Huh. Is it just me or do half these points revolve around food? We must seriously get a life!!
As for you my brother, our sisterly/brotherly/motherly/fatherly plans will be disclosed as the time comes nearer :D me loves you!
And as if I didn't have enough to rejoice in already, we have a long weekend this week! Yay to me! :D
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Lovin my Cuppa
I don't come from a family of die-hard tea lovers (mom's a Turkish coffee person and dad's an American coffee dude). Actually, you would rarely see tea on the table at our house unless we have people over.
On the other hand, Ammanis are known for their love for tea. But during my four years of college, it didn't quite rub off on me. As a college student you don't really do a lot of visiting! And the occasional cup of tea here or there wasn't enough to make a lasting impression. Oh and it certainly didn't help that as a roomie I had a sis who thinks hot liquids in cups/mugs are only supposed to be used as hand warmers!!
However, now that I'm away from Amman for the most part of the year, the times when I am there involve a lot of home visits. And visiting homes in Amman can only mean one thing: Tea on the table. And I must say, over the past summer, it has grown on me.
It was a gradual process. First I started to expect it, then I started to enjoy it, then actually look forward to it. At the end, now brace yourself, I actually decided to invest in a box of Lipton tea! So for the first time in the history of my Odd-hours-shopping-at-plaza, tea made it on my list!
How hard can it be right? It's just tea. Oh and I even know which brand I want, easy-peasy. I scanned the shelves for the word "Lipton"- oh here it is. Oh here's another. wait, that's also lipton. What the..???
Yellow Label. Earl Grey. Green tea. Purple Tea. God knows what else! I was lost. I just wanted tea. The normal brown thing people gave me at their homes.
A friend in need is a friend indeed! At the end I called up my friend, who works in a lab. In the background around her I could hear stuff like: "is the culture ready?" "Quick quick the patient is here" "WHERE IS THE TEST TUBE", but that didn't faze me. She actually listened to me freak out about what tea brand to buy and didn't even hang up, now THAT is a test of a true friend! (sure, she later called me back and called me nuts and crazy, but that's besides the point).
These days, I'm more of a green tea with honey person. I love it. And now that I've come across those articles on BBC on how great tea is (black, green, all's good!), this newbie tea-lover won't be going anywhere;)
On the other hand, Ammanis are known for their love for tea. But during my four years of college, it didn't quite rub off on me. As a college student you don't really do a lot of visiting! And the occasional cup of tea here or there wasn't enough to make a lasting impression. Oh and it certainly didn't help that as a roomie I had a sis who thinks hot liquids in cups/mugs are only supposed to be used as hand warmers!!
However, now that I'm away from Amman for the most part of the year, the times when I am there involve a lot of home visits. And visiting homes in Amman can only mean one thing: Tea on the table. And I must say, over the past summer, it has grown on me.
It was a gradual process. First I started to expect it, then I started to enjoy it, then actually look forward to it. At the end, now brace yourself, I actually decided to invest in a box of Lipton tea! So for the first time in the history of my Odd-hours-shopping-at-plaza, tea made it on my list!
How hard can it be right? It's just tea. Oh and I even know which brand I want, easy-peasy. I scanned the shelves for the word "Lipton"- oh here it is. Oh here's another. wait, that's also lipton. What the..???
Yellow Label. Earl Grey. Green tea. Purple Tea. God knows what else! I was lost. I just wanted tea. The normal brown thing people gave me at their homes.
A friend in need is a friend indeed! At the end I called up my friend, who works in a lab. In the background around her I could hear stuff like: "is the culture ready?" "Quick quick the patient is here" "WHERE IS THE TEST TUBE", but that didn't faze me. She actually listened to me freak out about what tea brand to buy and didn't even hang up, now THAT is a test of a true friend! (sure, she later called me back and called me nuts and crazy, but that's besides the point).
These days, I'm more of a green tea with honey person. I love it. And now that I've come across those articles on BBC on how great tea is (black, green, all's good!), this newbie tea-lover won't be going anywhere;)
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Lets bet our falafel on it!
Thanks to YouTube, I was able to watch the new Canadian sitcom "Little Mosque On the Prairie", and so can you.
All I can say is, WOW. It's brilliant. It's fantastic. It's JUST what we need! Zarqa Nawaz (the show creator), you rock!
I'm more than looking forward to catching the upcoming episodes. I absolutely loved the characters (and no, not just the good-looking 20-something Imam:P). Sarah with her cucumber sandwishes (Ewww) and don't-piss-me-off Fatima. But my favorite has to be the old Imam. Oh my God he is hilarious. "The enemy is IN YOUR KITCHEN". Priceless I tell you.
Be sure to watch it, you'll love it. I'll "bet my falafel" on that;)
All I can say is, WOW. It's brilliant. It's fantastic. It's JUST what we need! Zarqa Nawaz (the show creator), you rock!
I'm more than looking forward to catching the upcoming episodes. I absolutely loved the characters (and no, not just the good-looking 20-something Imam:P). Sarah with her cucumber sandwishes (Ewww) and don't-piss-me-off Fatima. But my favorite has to be the old Imam. Oh my God he is hilarious. "The enemy is IN YOUR KITCHEN". Priceless I tell you.
Be sure to watch it, you'll love it. I'll "bet my falafel" on that;)
Phew
Hamad: Teacher where would we find the negative and positive charges inside us?
Me: Okay see, you are really made out of billions of veeeeeeeery tiny things called "atoms" and inside those extreeeeemely tiny atoms you'll find the charges.
Hamad: I'm made of atoms?
Me: Yes Hamad lots and lots of them. You're FULL of atoms.
Hamad (visibly horrified): ONLY ME TEACHER?
Me (cracked up): no of course not! So am I!
Hamad: And Ahmed?
Me: yes and ahmed.
Hamad: And Khaled and Saod and Abdulla???
Me: Yes EVERYONE and EVERYTHING.
Hamad (able to breathe again): Oh okay.
Me: Okay see, you are really made out of billions of veeeeeeeery tiny things called "atoms" and inside those extreeeeemely tiny atoms you'll find the charges.
Hamad: I'm made of atoms?
Me: Yes Hamad lots and lots of them. You're FULL of atoms.
Hamad (visibly horrified): ONLY ME TEACHER?
Me (cracked up): no of course not! So am I!
Hamad: And Ahmed?
Me: yes and ahmed.
Hamad: And Khaled and Saod and Abdulla???
Me: Yes EVERYONE and EVERYTHING.
Hamad (able to breathe again): Oh okay.
Boyish Spat
Mohammed: You're a girl!
Khaled: No, YOU are a girl.
Mohammed: No YOU are.
Me (mumbling to myself): I WISH.
Khaled: No, YOU are a girl.
Mohammed: No YOU are.
Me (mumbling to myself): I WISH.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Leave it to Dr. Seuss
Growing up, Friday prayers have always been associated with the men in our family. My dad took my brother. Or all my cousins would go with my grandpa. I was never really involved in them. The only thing I did (with the help of my sis) was ask my little brother as soon as he's home what the sermon was about. He always gave us the same blank look- which we took as a sign that he had dozed off during it, and enjoyed teasing him for hours!
So when I visited Boston a few months back, and my sis told me to get ready for Friday prayer at MIT's musalla, my first reaction was: "Huh? Why?". I did end up going eventually, and boy am I glad I did. Apparently, Friday prayer is like a weekly mini-reunion, where you get to meet all the "sisters" and "brothers" whom you wouldn't otherwise see what with the hectic college life. As we found ourselves a comfortable corner to snuggle in, I watched as the small musalla room filled up to its full capacity. Then the sermon began. It was amazing. It was short and concise, yet its effect was great. All the while you could tell that the Imam had a message to send and he was doing just that. It was delivered so eloquently and in a manner that is unassuming and easy to relate to. He wanted each and every one of us to leave and remember that message, as we walked or cycled or road the subway home. I left feeling cleansed, serene and with something to think about.
I thought to myself "hmm.. that's nice. How come I don't go to Friday prayers back home? I really should".
And that's how I ended up in the Grand Mosque a couple of weeks ago. I sat in the spacious room, alongside the other ladies. Some were reading Qoran, some were greeting each other, and others were attending to their infants or toddlers, fruitlessly trying to shush them (oh but that's a can of worms on its own). Soon the call for prayer announced the beginning of the sermon.
I really don't know where to start. No seriously, I'm in shock. I don't know what to make of it.
But there I was; a twenty-something and fairly-intelligent (I like to think) girl listening to a respected Shaykh and yet feeling incredibly stupid and thick. I mean it was unbelievable. I understood each and every word he said on its own, but as a whole unit, his sentences made no sense to me. To further help you understand how I felt, imagine an Arab attempting to read an Urdu text. Even though he's able to recognize each and every letter seperately, it does nothing to aid him in making sense of the foreign blends that are in fact Urdu words.
The Imam seemed to have put all his energy into ornamenting his sentences, delivering easy on the ear and quite enjoyable rhyming words, with a nice ring to them. It had an artistic outer shell that might elicit initial admiration, and yet sooner or later the shocking reality of it's hollow body will look you straight in the eye.
Try as I might to pinpoint the message behind his multitude of words, I could not. I tried, honestly and heartily, to figure out where he's heading with this, but to no avail. I was literally forcing myself to concentrate, but eventually had no choice but to give up and totally zone out. Just then I remembered my (back then) 8-year-old brother. If the sermons he used to attend were anything like this one, I pitty the poor kid.
My initial shock and anger didn't last long, and as I left the breathtakingly designed Grand Mosque, only sadness was left in my heart. How could this be happening? Since when did Imams become more concerned with the musical effect their sermons possess, than with their actual content.
And what's even worse is that it's not like we are in no need for those sermons. In fact, I don't think our need for guidance has ever been greater. Has the Imam not seen the state of us? The state of our countries? Does he not see the lying, the cheating, the stealing that takes place all the time. Did he not hear about the reckless teenagers that roam the streets like maniacs with their daddy-bought-it-for-me convertables and end up killing not only themselves but an entire unsuspecting family? Doesn't he have anything to say to that employee who wastes hour upon hour in his job and ditches work whenever he wants and gets a fake sick leave. What about the doctor who actually gives fake sick leaves in return for immediate gain? Does the Imam choose to ignore our gossip and back-biting-infested societies? Does he not feel the need to reassure that repenting sinner that God is all merciful and forgiving? It's always good when someone reminds us of that... Why doesn't he notice and talk to the young boys between the crowds? Why not make them feel noticed and not overshadowed by grownups they accompany for a change. Does the Imam not hear the news? Does he not sip his coffee over the morning paper? Does he really think our state of things is so ideal that he can afford the leisure of entertaining our senses with artistic and almost poetic sermons that are devoid of any meaning?
Don't get me wrong. I do realise that this was one Imam, one Friday, in one mosque at one tiny corner in the world. I'm sure there are billions of amazing people, muslims and non-muslims alike, who are doing their part of making this world a better place. Just now as I type this, I can overhear the Friday sermon coming from the direction of the mosque near us. I wasn't really following it word for word, but there seems to be a theme. Which is good.
I don't want to fall into the pit of only highlighting the negative and turning a blind eye on the positive. I mean, just the fact that there are people like Shaykh Hamza Yusuf still around us, is reason enough to keep the hope very much alive.
And so I remain hopeful.
So when I visited Boston a few months back, and my sis told me to get ready for Friday prayer at MIT's musalla, my first reaction was: "Huh? Why?". I did end up going eventually, and boy am I glad I did. Apparently, Friday prayer is like a weekly mini-reunion, where you get to meet all the "sisters" and "brothers" whom you wouldn't otherwise see what with the hectic college life. As we found ourselves a comfortable corner to snuggle in, I watched as the small musalla room filled up to its full capacity. Then the sermon began. It was amazing. It was short and concise, yet its effect was great. All the while you could tell that the Imam had a message to send and he was doing just that. It was delivered so eloquently and in a manner that is unassuming and easy to relate to. He wanted each and every one of us to leave and remember that message, as we walked or cycled or road the subway home. I left feeling cleansed, serene and with something to think about.
I thought to myself "hmm.. that's nice. How come I don't go to Friday prayers back home? I really should".
And that's how I ended up in the Grand Mosque a couple of weeks ago. I sat in the spacious room, alongside the other ladies. Some were reading Qoran, some were greeting each other, and others were attending to their infants or toddlers, fruitlessly trying to shush them (oh but that's a can of worms on its own). Soon the call for prayer announced the beginning of the sermon.
I really don't know where to start. No seriously, I'm in shock. I don't know what to make of it.
But there I was; a twenty-something and fairly-intelligent (I like to think) girl listening to a respected Shaykh and yet feeling incredibly stupid and thick. I mean it was unbelievable. I understood each and every word he said on its own, but as a whole unit, his sentences made no sense to me. To further help you understand how I felt, imagine an Arab attempting to read an Urdu text. Even though he's able to recognize each and every letter seperately, it does nothing to aid him in making sense of the foreign blends that are in fact Urdu words.
The Imam seemed to have put all his energy into ornamenting his sentences, delivering easy on the ear and quite enjoyable rhyming words, with a nice ring to them. It had an artistic outer shell that might elicit initial admiration, and yet sooner or later the shocking reality of it's hollow body will look you straight in the eye.
Try as I might to pinpoint the message behind his multitude of words, I could not. I tried, honestly and heartily, to figure out where he's heading with this, but to no avail. I was literally forcing myself to concentrate, but eventually had no choice but to give up and totally zone out. Just then I remembered my (back then) 8-year-old brother. If the sermons he used to attend were anything like this one, I pitty the poor kid.
My initial shock and anger didn't last long, and as I left the breathtakingly designed Grand Mosque, only sadness was left in my heart. How could this be happening? Since when did Imams become more concerned with the musical effect their sermons possess, than with their actual content.
And what's even worse is that it's not like we are in no need for those sermons. In fact, I don't think our need for guidance has ever been greater. Has the Imam not seen the state of us? The state of our countries? Does he not see the lying, the cheating, the stealing that takes place all the time. Did he not hear about the reckless teenagers that roam the streets like maniacs with their daddy-bought-it-for-me convertables and end up killing not only themselves but an entire unsuspecting family? Doesn't he have anything to say to that employee who wastes hour upon hour in his job and ditches work whenever he wants and gets a fake sick leave. What about the doctor who actually gives fake sick leaves in return for immediate gain? Does the Imam choose to ignore our gossip and back-biting-infested societies? Does he not feel the need to reassure that repenting sinner that God is all merciful and forgiving? It's always good when someone reminds us of that... Why doesn't he notice and talk to the young boys between the crowds? Why not make them feel noticed and not overshadowed by grownups they accompany for a change. Does the Imam not hear the news? Does he not sip his coffee over the morning paper? Does he really think our state of things is so ideal that he can afford the leisure of entertaining our senses with artistic and almost poetic sermons that are devoid of any meaning?
Don't get me wrong. I do realise that this was one Imam, one Friday, in one mosque at one tiny corner in the world. I'm sure there are billions of amazing people, muslims and non-muslims alike, who are doing their part of making this world a better place. Just now as I type this, I can overhear the Friday sermon coming from the direction of the mosque near us. I wasn't really following it word for word, but there seems to be a theme. Which is good.
I don't want to fall into the pit of only highlighting the negative and turning a blind eye on the positive. I mean, just the fact that there are people like Shaykh Hamza Yusuf still around us, is reason enough to keep the hope very much alive.
And so I remain hopeful.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
hmmm...
Excerpt from a convo over lunch..
Mom: Mariam habibti, you do know that "a6iggak 6rag" means slap you on the face, right?
Me: What? Of course not, "a6iggak" means beat you up and "6rag" is just added for emphasis and exaggeration.
Mom: really? And who told you this?
Me: Um, no one. I just know.
Mom: Interesting, but nonetheless totally off.
Me: Are you SERIOUS?
Mom: Next time make sure you run any Kuwaiti you "understand" and use by me first. Especially if you're gonna blog it for everyone to see :P
Me: BUT.. fine. okay.
Hmm... That explains a lot. No seriously, A LOT.
Mom: Mariam habibti, you do know that "a6iggak 6rag" means slap you on the face, right?
Me: What? Of course not, "a6iggak" means beat you up and "6rag" is just added for emphasis and exaggeration.
Mom: really? And who told you this?
Me: Um, no one. I just know.
Mom: Interesting, but nonetheless totally off.
Me: Are you SERIOUS?
Mom: Next time make sure you run any Kuwaiti you "understand" and use by me first. Especially if you're gonna blog it for everyone to see :P
Me: BUT.. fine. okay.
Hmm... That explains a lot. No seriously, A LOT.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Bilingual- Gone Bad!
I guess, to me, being bilingual means possessing proper command of two languages (in my case Arabic and English). While I am equally comfortable using either, I would slightly favor one over the other depending on the area. For example, Arabic will always be my mother tongue; the language I grew up hearing and speaking. No matter how fluent or comfortable I’ll get in English or any other language for that matter, I would always want and miss using the purely Arabic colloquial expressions. They are so expressive, and yet are lost in translation.
When it comes to the read and written language however (again, I can do both perfectly well) the scale tips in favor of English. I guess it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
My feeble attempts to be trilingual have obviously amounted to nothing. The French classes at school were a big bucket of time wasted. Then there was that “Italian For Beginners” course I took during my last summer in college. Well, originally I was going for Spanish. You see, I thought it would be wise to learn a phrase or two if I were to marry Enrique Iglesias! (Which was the plan at the time:P) But Spanish wasn’t available in the summer, but my friends told me Italian is close, and would be good enough. Huh.
My school where I work now is bilingual. However, the kids are redefining what “Bilingual” means to me. Bilingual is what produces sentences like these:
Hammad: NO TEACHER WALLAH he khatterni (cut in front of me)!
(Said after being told off for pushing his friend in line)
Abdulaziz: Miss Mariam can I go to the bathroom? Pleeeeeeeeeeease pleeeeeease 7addi 7addi 7asran! (Can’t hold it any longer).
(Said with a cringe that gets me all panicked and hurriedly yelling: “GO GO GO”)
Ahmad: Teacher see Barak! He hit me biryoola (with his legs)
(Said as Barak looks at me ever-so-innocently!)
Each and Every boy: Just wait I will a6iggak 6rag (beat you silly) in recess.
(Said, well, pretty much all the time. Unless he decides to proceed with the “6rag” right away, in which case this very thoughtful forewarning would seize to exist).
It’s really quite impressive how they fluently and automatically mesh the two languages into this unrecognizable awful hybrid!
It used to confuse the hell out of me at first. Now not only do I expect it, but my brain has gotten so used to this instant language hopping, that when they do happen to say a complete sentence in English or Arabic, my automatic response is “come again?”.
When it comes to the read and written language however (again, I can do both perfectly well) the scale tips in favor of English. I guess it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
My feeble attempts to be trilingual have obviously amounted to nothing. The French classes at school were a big bucket of time wasted. Then there was that “Italian For Beginners” course I took during my last summer in college. Well, originally I was going for Spanish. You see, I thought it would be wise to learn a phrase or two if I were to marry Enrique Iglesias! (Which was the plan at the time:P) But Spanish wasn’t available in the summer, but my friends told me Italian is close, and would be good enough. Huh.
My school where I work now is bilingual. However, the kids are redefining what “Bilingual” means to me. Bilingual is what produces sentences like these:
Hammad: NO TEACHER WALLAH he khatterni (cut in front of me)!
(Said after being told off for pushing his friend in line)
Abdulaziz: Miss Mariam can I go to the bathroom? Pleeeeeeeeeeease pleeeeeease 7addi 7addi 7asran! (Can’t hold it any longer).
(Said with a cringe that gets me all panicked and hurriedly yelling: “GO GO GO”)
Ahmad: Teacher see Barak! He hit me biryoola (with his legs)
(Said as Barak looks at me ever-so-innocently!)
Each and Every boy: Just wait I will a6iggak 6rag (beat you silly) in recess.
(Said, well, pretty much all the time. Unless he decides to proceed with the “6rag” right away, in which case this very thoughtful forewarning would seize to exist).
It’s really quite impressive how they fluently and automatically mesh the two languages into this unrecognizable awful hybrid!
It used to confuse the hell out of me at first. Now not only do I expect it, but my brain has gotten so used to this instant language hopping, that when they do happen to say a complete sentence in English or Arabic, my automatic response is “come again?”.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
"Nothing comes from nothing...."
"Nothing ever could..
So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must've done something good..."
to have a class as amazing as 4C..
And I must've done something postively wicked to get one like 4D.
And for that I'm really sorry. Did you hear that? So sincerely, completely and utterly sorry.
Make it stop.
Please?
So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must've done something good..."
to have a class as amazing as 4C..
And I must've done something postively wicked to get one like 4D.
And for that I'm really sorry. Did you hear that? So sincerely, completely and utterly sorry.
Make it stop.
Please?
Friday, January 05, 2007
And the celebrations begin!
Not really. I'm spending the day preparing lesson plans, for tomorrow we go back to school *sniff sniff*
Last night though (the night of my birthday) my mom and dad took me out for dinner. I was told to choose any place I like. I had no clue at first, the multitude of dining options around here is overwhelming!
Then I suddenly remembered seeing the ad of and spotting this fairly new restaurant called Thai Chi, which is as you prolly figured out both a Thai and Chinese restaurant squashed into one.
Some years back when on a holiday in Malaysia I did swear off Thai food after a very very unpleasant mouthful-of-hot-red-chili encounter (don't even ask!). But while at Boston a few months back, my sis took me to a real nice Thai restaurant and my relationship with Thai Cuisine was thus reconciled.
The minute we stepped in the place I was in love. Seriously, I didn't give a stinky sock whether the food would be good or not, I was SO coming back to this place! The design won me over while still at the doorstep. It's on two levels and contemporary is the design theme. The whole place is a warm deep blend of crimsons and yellows with big glass windows. Every little detail is well thought out and absolutely gorgeous. I loved the chairs, plates, the vase and the delicate crimson flower inside, the staircase, the mesmerising oriental kimonos of the waitresses and the lighting. The atmosphere was so cosy and welcoming. Oh and it so happened that I was dressed in crimson myself, so I totally blended in;)
The food did not disappoint at all. Everything was served in a cute plate and the taste had me instantly tuck in with relish! AND the waitress actually pointed out the red chili in my plate with an uncomfortably (to me!) knowing look (hmmm, I guess I prolly have the look of a girl who naively mistakes red chili pepper for red cabbage and eats a mouthful!!:P)
It was the closest thing to a perfect evening- except I so wished Dalia and Abood would be there as well. Abood called to wish me a happy birthday during dinner and I got the chance to rave about the place, so I kinda felt he was around!:)
Sis, this is the first place we're going to next time you're in town. You'll love it.
To those of you living in Kuwait, what are you waiting for, go Thai Chi!
Last night though (the night of my birthday) my mom and dad took me out for dinner. I was told to choose any place I like. I had no clue at first, the multitude of dining options around here is overwhelming!
Then I suddenly remembered seeing the ad of and spotting this fairly new restaurant called Thai Chi, which is as you prolly figured out both a Thai and Chinese restaurant squashed into one.
Some years back when on a holiday in Malaysia I did swear off Thai food after a very very unpleasant mouthful-of-hot-red-chili encounter (don't even ask!). But while at Boston a few months back, my sis took me to a real nice Thai restaurant and my relationship with Thai Cuisine was thus reconciled.
The minute we stepped in the place I was in love. Seriously, I didn't give a stinky sock whether the food would be good or not, I was SO coming back to this place! The design won me over while still at the doorstep. It's on two levels and contemporary is the design theme. The whole place is a warm deep blend of crimsons and yellows with big glass windows. Every little detail is well thought out and absolutely gorgeous. I loved the chairs, plates, the vase and the delicate crimson flower inside, the staircase, the mesmerising oriental kimonos of the waitresses and the lighting. The atmosphere was so cosy and welcoming. Oh and it so happened that I was dressed in crimson myself, so I totally blended in;)
The food did not disappoint at all. Everything was served in a cute plate and the taste had me instantly tuck in with relish! AND the waitress actually pointed out the red chili in my plate with an uncomfortably (to me!) knowing look (hmmm, I guess I prolly have the look of a girl who naively mistakes red chili pepper for red cabbage and eats a mouthful!!:P)
It was the closest thing to a perfect evening- except I so wished Dalia and Abood would be there as well. Abood called to wish me a happy birthday during dinner and I got the chance to rave about the place, so I kinda felt he was around!:)
Sis, this is the first place we're going to next time you're in town. You'll love it.
To those of you living in Kuwait, what are you waiting for, go Thai Chi!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Three And Twenty
The good thing about having my birthday (hint hint) so close to New Year's, is that I only need to go into a deep reflective mode once a year! Which is more than enough for me really.
And to be fair to both occasions (my birthday is on the 5th), this usually happens somewhere in between. And since today is the 3rd, what better timing, no?
I'll be turning 23! I won't lie to you, I wasn't thrilled at first. I don't really like odd numbers (the exception being 21- I loved being 21! It felt so important). I'd rather be 24 than 23. Or I could stay 22, I loved being 22! I'm going to miss being 22:) Oh well, life goes on. (See I'm already halfway into this "wise pondering mode", must say I'm proud of meself:P
So in the spirit of embracing being 23, this post's theme will be... you guessed it, TWENTY THREE!
Brace yourselves. Oh and don't expect this to be deep (I'm too drowsy and high on sugar to know what the heck I'm writing).
23 Things I'm Thankful For:
1. Chocolates.
2. Godiva Chocolate.
3. A nutella Jar of spreadable bliss!
4. Any Chocolate, really.
5. Yep, even semi-sweet baking chocolate.
6. Anything with sufficient sugar to guarantee a sugar rush effect, really.
7. My pillow. Try sleeping without one and you'll know what I'm talking about.
8. Kids. The world would be such a serious, dull and unlivable place without them.
9. Smiles. Best thing in the world, no competition.
10. Liquid soap.
11. Snuggle socks. My toes would fall off without them (not good).
12. Water- especially after a long run.
13. Being able to run.
14. My ugly runners (hey they do the job pretty darn well- but yeah they're awfully ugly I dunno what I was thinking when I bought them.)
15. Msn, emails, this blog, whatever keeps me connected to my dearest loved ones!
16. My dearest loved ones.
17. My dearest loved ones.
18. My dearest loved ones. (can't say that enough)
19. Laughter. Hard and often.
20. Pajamas. The cute kiddish ones. Man I would love to live in my Pajamas- day and night!
21. Friends (the comedy). Oh alright, and the real ones as well;P
22. Great people like Hamza Yusuf and Amr Khaled.
23. The million stars (in Wadi Rum). We don't look up at the sky often enough. We should.
My Far-Fetched Wish List (23 items):
1. Have chocolate scratched off the "Things that could seriously shorten your life span and cause sudden painful death" list.
2. Learn to play an instrument (guitar or piano...).
3. Backpack through Europe, Amazon, Africa and India.
4. Learn another language fluently.
5. Be a professional athlete.
6. Win an Olympic Gold medal.
7. Work with Greenpeace.
8. Work as a wild life photographer for National Geographic.
9. Open my own school.
10. Have my owns kids to experiment with and eventually mess up, but nonetheless love them to death.
11. Don't worry, I do realise I must find their dad first. That would be item 11:P
12. Live in Jerusalem.
13. Write a bestseller (even if it's cause I bought and scared my friends into buying 999, 000 of the million copies sold;)
14. Read an encyclopedia from cover to cover and actually REMEMBER stuff.
15. Have a better memory. (I'm sorry, do I know you? My brother? for real?)
16. Becoming one of those AWESOME teachers who know their stuff.
17. Become a character in Harry Potter series.
18. Somehow stopping people from being SUCH DISGUSTING LITTER BUGS. Honestly.
19. Getting my black belt in Ju-Jitsu and being as dangerously awesome as Sensei Nadine is.
20. Learning to say no to drugs. (HEHEHEHE I'm kidding mom don't freak out!)
21. See an end to wars, poverty and abuse.
22. Memorize the Qoran.
23. Never ever be away from or lose someone I love.
23 things I resolve never to do- not in a million years (so help me God!)
1. Wear heels.
2. Eat chips or processed meat.
3. Put on Makeup.
4. Wear animal prints.
5. Live in the Gulf (Huh. So much for that resolution!)
6. Backbite.
7. Take more than 10-15 minutes to get ready (unless it's for a fancy event)
8. Forget my friends' birthdays.
9. Watch a soap opera, reality TV or talk show (well, for more than 10 seconds anyway).
10. Visit a dentist- viscious people I tell you.
11. Being sucked into the materialistic life around here.
12. Forget Amman. The things I love about it.
13. Complain more than once a day.
14. Make snap judgements, especially about people.
15. Think I'm all that.
16. Throw one of the kids in my classroom out of the window.
17. Smoke or be around people who do.
18. Upset my parents.
19. Outgrowing a day at the playground.
20. Wallow in my misfortune rather than celebrate my blessings.
21. Drink turkish coffee.
22. Swear off chocolates.
23. Stop loving my big fat crazy cat.
Man, this post woulda been so much easier to write if I were turning 4!
And to be fair to both occasions (my birthday is on the 5th), this usually happens somewhere in between. And since today is the 3rd, what better timing, no?
I'll be turning 23! I won't lie to you, I wasn't thrilled at first. I don't really like odd numbers (the exception being 21- I loved being 21! It felt so important). I'd rather be 24 than 23. Or I could stay 22, I loved being 22! I'm going to miss being 22:) Oh well, life goes on. (See I'm already halfway into this "wise pondering mode", must say I'm proud of meself:P
So in the spirit of embracing being 23, this post's theme will be... you guessed it, TWENTY THREE!
Brace yourselves. Oh and don't expect this to be deep (I'm too drowsy and high on sugar to know what the heck I'm writing).
23 Things I'm Thankful For:
1. Chocolates.
2. Godiva Chocolate.
3. A nutella Jar of spreadable bliss!
4. Any Chocolate, really.
5. Yep, even semi-sweet baking chocolate.
6. Anything with sufficient sugar to guarantee a sugar rush effect, really.
7. My pillow. Try sleeping without one and you'll know what I'm talking about.
8. Kids. The world would be such a serious, dull and unlivable place without them.
9. Smiles. Best thing in the world, no competition.
10. Liquid soap.
11. Snuggle socks. My toes would fall off without them (not good).
12. Water- especially after a long run.
13. Being able to run.
14. My ugly runners (hey they do the job pretty darn well- but yeah they're awfully ugly I dunno what I was thinking when I bought them.)
15. Msn, emails, this blog, whatever keeps me connected to my dearest loved ones!
16. My dearest loved ones.
17. My dearest loved ones.
18. My dearest loved ones. (can't say that enough)
19. Laughter. Hard and often.
20. Pajamas. The cute kiddish ones. Man I would love to live in my Pajamas- day and night!
21. Friends (the comedy). Oh alright, and the real ones as well;P
22. Great people like Hamza Yusuf and Amr Khaled.
23. The million stars (in Wadi Rum). We don't look up at the sky often enough. We should.
My Far-Fetched Wish List (23 items):
1. Have chocolate scratched off the "Things that could seriously shorten your life span and cause sudden painful death" list.
2. Learn to play an instrument (guitar or piano...).
3. Backpack through Europe, Amazon, Africa and India.
4. Learn another language fluently.
5. Be a professional athlete.
6. Win an Olympic Gold medal.
7. Work with Greenpeace.
8. Work as a wild life photographer for National Geographic.
9. Open my own school.
10. Have my owns kids to experiment with and eventually mess up, but nonetheless love them to death.
11. Don't worry, I do realise I must find their dad first. That would be item 11:P
12. Live in Jerusalem.
13. Write a bestseller (even if it's cause I bought and scared my friends into buying 999, 000 of the million copies sold;)
14. Read an encyclopedia from cover to cover and actually REMEMBER stuff.
15. Have a better memory. (I'm sorry, do I know you? My brother? for real?)
16. Becoming one of those AWESOME teachers who know their stuff.
17. Become a character in Harry Potter series.
18. Somehow stopping people from being SUCH DISGUSTING LITTER BUGS. Honestly.
19. Getting my black belt in Ju-Jitsu and being as dangerously awesome as Sensei Nadine is.
20. Learning to say no to drugs. (HEHEHEHE I'm kidding mom don't freak out!)
21. See an end to wars, poverty and abuse.
22. Memorize the Qoran.
23. Never ever be away from or lose someone I love.
23 things I resolve never to do- not in a million years (so help me God!)
1. Wear heels.
2. Eat chips or processed meat.
3. Put on Makeup.
4. Wear animal prints.
5. Live in the Gulf (Huh. So much for that resolution!)
6. Backbite.
7. Take more than 10-15 minutes to get ready (unless it's for a fancy event)
8. Forget my friends' birthdays.
9. Watch a soap opera, reality TV or talk show (well, for more than 10 seconds anyway).
10. Visit a dentist- viscious people I tell you.
11. Being sucked into the materialistic life around here.
12. Forget Amman. The things I love about it.
13. Complain more than once a day.
14. Make snap judgements, especially about people.
15. Think I'm all that.
16. Throw one of the kids in my classroom out of the window.
17. Smoke or be around people who do.
18. Upset my parents.
19. Outgrowing a day at the playground.
20. Wallow in my misfortune rather than celebrate my blessings.
21. Drink turkish coffee.
22. Swear off chocolates.
23. Stop loving my big fat crazy cat.
Man, this post woulda been so much easier to write if I were turning 4!
Monday, January 01, 2007
هيو ميييين؟؟؟
مقطع من شريط الأخبار المعروض على أسفل الشاشه
هيومان رايتس ووتش: محاكمة صدام شابتها عيوب جسيمه
مريم: بابا مين هوه هيومان رايتس هاد؟ و مين وتش؟
بابا: والله يا بابا ما انا عارف مين حطك إتربي أجيال
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